BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

o 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


SALVATION 
UNIVERSAL 


By 
JOSEPH  FIELDING  SMITH 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  GENEALOGICAL 
SOCIETY  OF  UTAH 

1920 


SALVATION 
UNIVERSAL 


By 
JOSEPH  FIELDING  SMITH 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  GENEALOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF  UTAH 
1920 


THE  GENEALOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF  UTAH. 

Organized  November  13,  1894. 

Anthon  H.  Lund,  President;  Charles  W.  Penrose,  Vice  Presi- 
dent; Joseph  Fielding  Smith,  Secy,  and  Treas.;  Joseph  Christen- 
son,  Librarian;  Lillian  Cameron  and  Nephi  Anderson,  Assistant 
Librarians. 

DIRECTORS:  Anthon  H.  Lund,  Charles  W.  Penrose, 
Joseph  Christenson,  Joseph  Fielding  Smith,  Anthony  W.  Ivins, 
Hyrum  G.  Smith. 

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Salvation    Universal  . 


BY  ELDER  JOSEPH  FIELDING  SMITH 


The  greatest  of  all  the  gifts  of  God  unto  his  children,  is  the 
gift  of  salvation/' 

The  greatest  of  all  his  works,  to  bring  to  pass  the  immor- 
tality and  eternal  life  of  man,  which  constitutes  his  glory.6 

For  this  grand  and  glorious  purpose,  worlds  are  cre- 
ated by  him  and  peopled  with  his  children.  He  gives  to 
them  his  commandments,  granting  the  power  to  choose 
for  themselves  whether  or  not  they  will  obey.  Those  who 
obey  him  in  all  things  he  has  promised  great  blessings, 
they  shall  be  added  upon  in  his  celestial  kingdom  for  ever 
and  ever,  and  shall  be  crowned  with  the  fullness  of  his 
glory.  But  to  those  who  reject  laws,  and  become  a  law 
unto  themselves  in  unrighteousness,  shall  punishment  be 
meted  out  according  to  their  evil  deeds. 

The  plan  of  *alvation,  or  code  of  laws,  which  is 
known  as  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  was  adopted  in  the 
heavens,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  was  laid.  It 
was  appointed  there  that  Adam  our  father  should  come  to 
this  earth  and  stand  at  the  head  of  the  whole  human 
family.  It  was  a  part  of  this  great  plan,  that  he  should 
partake  of  the  forbidden  fruit  and  fall,  thus  bringing  suf- 
fering and  death  into  the  world,  even  for  the  ultimate 
good  of  his  children.  By  many  he  has  been  severely  criti- 
cized because  of  his  fall,  but  Latter-day  Saints,  through 
modern  revelation,  have  learned  that  such  was  necessary 
in  order  that  man  should  have  his  agency  and,  through 

"Doc.  &  Cov.  6:13. 
&Book  of  Moses  1:39. 


4  SALVATION   UNIVERSAL 

the  varigus  vicissitudes  he  has  to  pass,  reccjve  a  knowl- 
edge of  both  good  and  evil,  without  Which  it  would  be 
impossible  for  him  to  gain  the  exaltation  prepared  for 
him, 

It  was  also  necessary  because  of  Adam's  transgres- 
sion for  the  Only  Begotten  Son  of  the  Father  to  come  to 
redeem  the  world  from  Adam's  fall.  This  also  was  a  part 
of  the  plan  chosen  before  the  earth  was  made,  for  Jesus 
is  called  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.  He  came  and  redeemed  us  from  the  fall — even 
all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth.  Not  only  did  he  redeem 
us  from  Adam's  transgression,  but  he  also  redeemed  us 
from  our  own  sins,  on  condition  that  we  obey  the  laws 
and  ordinances  of  the  gospel. d 

"And  now,  behold,"  said  the  Prophet  Lehi  to  his  son 
Jacob,  "if  Adam  had  not  transgressed,  he  would  not  have 
fallen;  but  he  would  have  remained  in  the  Garden  of 
Eden.  And  all  things  which  were  created  must  have  re- 
mained in  the  same  state  in  which  they  were,  after  they 
were  created ;  and  they  must  have  remained  for  ever,  and 
had  no  end.  And  they  would  have  had  no  children ;  where- 
fore, they  would  have  remained  in  a  state  of  innocence, 
having  no  joy,  for  they  knew  no  misery ;  doing  no  good, 
for  they  knew  no  sin.  But  behold,  all  things  have  been 
done  in  the  wisdom  of  him  who  knoweth  all  things.  Adam 
fell  that  men  might  be ;  and  men  are,  that  they  might  have 
joy. 

"And  the  Messiah  cometh  in  the  fullness  of  time,  that 
he  may  redeem  the  children  of  men  from  the  fall.  And  be- 
cause they  are  redeemed  from  the  fall,  they  have  become 
free  for  ever,  knowing  good  from  evil ;  to  act  for  them- 
selves, and  not  to  be  acted  upon,  save  it  be  by  the  pun- 
ishment of  the  law  at  the  great  and  last  day,  according  to 
the  commandments  which  God  hath  given. 

"Wherefore,  men  are  free  according  to  the  flesh ;  and 
all  things  are  given  them  which  are  expedient  unto  man. 
And  they  are  free  to  choose  liberty  and  eternal  life, 
through  the  great  mediation  of  all  men,  or  to  choose  cap- 
tivity and  death,  according  to  the  captivity  and  power  of 


<Rev.  13:8. 

<*Heb.  5:9;  Matt.  7:21;  John  1:3-6. 


SAt.A'AlION  UNIVERSAL 

the  devil;  for  he  seeketh  that  all  men  might  be  miserable 
like  unto  himself."'  ' 

The  primary  and  fundamental  principles  of  this  plan 
of  salvation  are : 

First :  Faith  in  God  the  Father,  in  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  We  must  accept  them  as 
the  presiding  authority  in  the  heavens,  who  govern  and 
control  all  things,  who  are  omnipotent,  just  and  true. 

Second :  We  must  accept  the  infinite  atonement  of 
Christ,  believing  that  he  is  the  Redeemer  of  the  world, 
both  from  Adam's  transgression  and  from  our  individual 
sins  on  condition  of  our  repetance. 

Third :  We  must  repent  of  all  our  sins,  giving  our 
hearts  to  God,  with  the  full  intent  of  serving  him. 

Fourth :  We  must  be  baptized  in  water  for  the  re- 
mission of  our  sins,  by  one.  who  is  called  of  God  and 
clothed  with  divine  authority  to  administer  in  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  gospel. 

Fifth :  We  must  have  the  hands  of  those  holding  au- 
thority placed  upon  our  heads,  and  through  their  minis- 
trations receive  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost, — the  spirit 
of  Truth  and  Prophecy  that  guides  us  in  all  truth. 

Sixth :  We  must  be  willing  to  serve  the  Lord  with 
all  our  heart,  mind  and  strength,  keeping  his  command- 
ments even- unto  the  end. 

Upon  these  laws,  salvation  is  based,  and  the  promised 
blessings  are  unto  all  men.  These  conditions  arc  not  se- 
vere, nor  grevious,  and  are  within  the  power  of  the  weak- 
est of  the  weak,  if  they  will  only  place  their  trust  in  their 
Redeemer. 

All  who  repent  and  obey  these  laws,  will  be  redeemed 
and  saved  from  the  sins  of  the  world ;  but  they  who  refuse 
and  repent  not,  will  have  to  suffer  for  their  own  sins.  The 
Lord  says :  "He  created  man,  male  and  female,  after  his 
own  image  and  in  his  own  likeness  created  he  them,  and 
gave  unto  them  commandments  that  they  should  love 
and  serve  him,  the  only  living  and  true  God,  and  that  he 
should  be  the  only  being  whom  they  should  worship.  But 
by  the  transgression  of  these  holy  laws,  man  became  sens- 
ual and  devilish,  and  became  fallen  man.  WkeTfcfore  the 

•11  Nephi  2:22-27. 


6  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

Almighty  God  gave  his  Only  Begotten  Son,  as  it  is  writ- 
ten in  those  scriptures  which  have  been  given  of  him.  He 
suffered  temptations,  but  gave  no  heed  unto  them ;  he  was 
crucified,  died  and  rose  again  the  third  day ;  and  ascended 
into  heaven,  to  sit  down  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Father, 
to  reign  with  almighty  power  according  to  the  will  of  the 
Father,  that  as  many  as  would  believe  and  be  baptized  in 
his  holy  name,  and  endure  in  faith  to  the  end,  should  be 
saved :  not  only  those  who  believed  after  he  came  in  the 
meridian  of  time,  in  the  flesh,  but  all  those  from  the  be- 
ginning, even  as  many  as  were  before  he  came,  who  be- 
lieved in  the  words  of  the  holy  prophets,  who  spake  as 

Moreover,  he  further  says:  "And  surely  every  man 
must  repent  :or  suffer,  for  1  God  am  endless :  * 
Therefore  I  command  you  to  repent — repent,  lest  I  smite 
you  by  the  rod  of  my  mouth,  and  by  my  wrath,  and  by  my 
anger,  and  your  sufferings  be  sore — how  sore  you  know 
not!  For  behold,  I, .God,  have  suffered  these  things  for 
all,  that  they  might  not  suffer  if  they  would  repent,  but 
if  they  would  not  repent,  they  must  suffer  even  as  I, 
which  suffering  caused  myself,  even  God,  the  greatest  of 
all,  to  tremble  because  of  pain,  and  to  bleed  at  every  pore, 
and  to  suffer  both  in  body  and  spirit :  and  would  that  I 
might  not  drink  the  bitter  cup  and  shrink — nevertheless, 
glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  I  partook  and  finished  my 
preparations  unto  the  children  of  men."*' 

These  principles  were  taught  to  Adam  after  he  was 
driven  from  the  Garden  of  Eden,  who  repented  and  was 
baptized  in  water  for  the  remission  of  his  sins,  and  re- 
ceived the  Holy  Ghost.  And  Eve,  when  she  heard  the 
gospel  plan,  rejoiced,  saying:  "Were  it  not  for  our  trans- 
gression, we  never  should  have  had  seed,  and  never 
should  have  known  good  and  evil,  and  the  joy  of  our 
redemption,  and  the  eternal  life  which  God  giveth  unto 
all  the  obedient.  And  Adam  and  Eve  blessed  the  name 
of  God,  and  they  made  all  things  known. to  their  sons 
and  daughters."* 

'Doc.  &Cov.  20:18-23. 

CQV.  19:4,  15-19. 
of  Moses  5:1M2. 


SALVATION   UNIVERSAL  7 

Thus  the  principles  of  the  gospel  were  taught  from 
the  beginning  among  the  children  of  Adam.  Some  be- 
lieved and  accepted  them,  many  others  rejected  them, 
bringing  down  upon  their  heads  the  wrathi  of  God,  for  his 
anger  was  kindled  against  them  because  of  their  rebellion. 
In  course  of  time,  when  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  were 
sufficiently  corrupt,  he  caused  the  floods  to  come  upon 
them,  sweeping  them  off  the  earth.  Noah,  who  was  a 
preacher  of  righteousness,  continued  to  preach  these  sav- 
ing principles.  .The  gospel  was  also  taught  to  Abraham, 
and  has  always  been  among  men  when  they  were  pre- 
pared to  receive  it. 

Latter-day  Saints  have  been  severly  criticised  by 
many  professing  Christians  for  believing  it  necessary  to 
comply  with  these  first  principles  of  the  gospel.  We  are 
told  that  such  views  make  us  narrow  and  illiberal,  for  we 
reject  and  damn  all  who  do  not  accept  "Mormonism"  and 
the  ministration  of  our  elders,  while  they  on  the  other 
hand,  give  a  broader  interpretation  of  the  scriptures,  hold- 
ing it  but  necessary  to  believe  in  Christ — to  confess  him 
with  the  mouth  and  to  believe  in  the  heart  that  Christ 
was  raised  from  the  dead. 

Or,  as  it  is  expressed, 

Nothing,  either  great  or  small, 

Remains  for  me  to  do; 
Nothing — Jesus  paid  it  all, 

All  the  debt  I  owe.  .    , 

Nevertheless,  there  is  but  one  plan  of  salvation,  and 
one  door  into  the  sheepfold,  "He  that  entereth  not  by  the 
door  into  the  sheepfold,  but  climbeth  up  some  other  way, 
the  same  is  a  thief  and  a- robber."* 

We  have  not  made  the  way  narrow  nor  the  gate 
strait,  that  few  there  be  that  find  it!  Nor  was  ours  the 
edict,  "Not  every  one  that  saith  Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter  in- 
to the  kingdom  of  heaven,  but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of 
the  father."' 

The  fact  that  certain  laws  must  be  observed,  and 
ordinances  complied  with,  is  not  the  ruling  of  the  Latter- 
day  Saints,  but  the  divine  mandate  of  the  Author  of  our 
salvation,  who  has  said  he  will  judge  all  men  according 

'John  10:1. 

'Matt.  7th  chapter. 


8  SALVATION   UNIVERSAL 

ti>  their  works  and  opportunities.  We  are  merely  comply- 
ing with  the  teachings  of  the  Master  which  we  have  re- 
ceived, and  which  are  requisite  to  salvation. 

If  belief  alone  were  sufficient,  then  even  the  devils, 
who  fear  and  tremble,  would  be  saved.  They  recognized 
the  Savior  and  declared  on  several  occasions  that  he  was 
the  Son  of  God/  And  the  devils  in  the  days  of  the  sons  of 
Sceva  declared  that  they  knew  Jesus  and  Paul,  yet  they 
were  far  from  the  road  to  salvation.' 

Notwithstanding  the  apparently  narrow  construction 
of  the  Latter-day  Saints  pertaining  to  the  scriptures — and 
we  most  emphatically  declare  that  all  men  must  obey 
these  laws  if  they  would  be  saved,  excepting  those  who 
die  without  law,  and  therefore  are  not  judged  by  law™ — 
we  are  broader  and  more  liberal  in  our  teachings  than  the 
believers  in  the  faith-only  theory  of  salvation,  who  would 
save  all  who  profess  a  belief  in  the  name  of  the  Redeemer, 
but  reject  all  others,  consigning  them  to  everlasting  de- 
struction without  one  ray  of  hope,  simply  because  they 
did  not  confess  that  Jesus  \vas  the  Christ.  This  view  con- 
demns all  who  lived  at  a  time  or  place  that  the  knowledge 
of  the  Redeemer  of  the  world  could  not  reach  them.  They 
would  reject  this  vast  majority  of  the  human  family,  men 
women  and  children,  to  eternal  damnation,  without  the 
fault  being  their  own ! 

With  the  Later-day  Saints  this  is  not  so.  While  it  is 
true  we  teach  that  a  man  must  comply  with  these  prin- 
ciples of  the  gospel  in  order  to  receive  salvation  and  exal- 
tation in  the  kingdom  of  heaven — -which  is  proved  by 
many  passages  of  scripture — nevertheless,  we  hold  out 
the  hope  that  all  may  be  saved,  excepting  the  sons  of  per- 
dition—a class  that  wilfully  rejects  the  atonement  of  the 
Savior :  for  the  Lord  intends  to  save  all  the  workmanship 
of  his  hands,  save  these  few  who  will  not  receive  salva- 
tion. Our  doctrine  consigns  none  others  to  perdition,  but 
holds  forth  the  hope  that  all  will  eventually  be  saved  in 
the  kingdom  of  God  at  some  time  and  in  some  degree  of 
tf  1«  >ry. 

Little  children  are  redeemed  from  the  foundation  of 


5:2-9;  Luke  4:33-34. 
'Acts  19:15. 
"Moroni  8:22. 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

the  world  through  the  atonement,  "Wherefore,  they  can- 
not sin,"  the  Lord  has  said,  "for  power  is  not  given  unto 
Satan  to  tempt  little  children,  until  they  begin  to  become 
accountable  before  me ;  for  it  is  given  unto  them  even  as 
I  will,  according  to  mine  own  pleasure,  that  great  things 
may  be  required  at  the  hand  of  their  fathers.  And  again, 
I  say  unto  you,  that  whoso  having  knowledge,  have  I 
not  commanded  to  repent?"'1 

He  that  declares  that  little  children  are  born  in  sin, 
and  therefore  require  baptism,  denies  the  mercy  of  the 
father  and  does  .not  understand"  the  nature  and  signifi- 
cance of  the  atonement.  The  Savior  said :  "Suffer  little 
children  and  forbid  them  not  to  come  unto  me,  for  of  such 
is  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  The  Prophet  Mormon  sums 
the  whole  matter  up  in  the  following  words: 

Little  children  cannot  repent;  wherefore  it  is  awful  wicked- 
ness to  deny  the  pure  mercies  of  God  unto  them,  for  they  are 
all  alire  in  him  because  of  his  mercy. 

And  he  that  saith,  that  little  children  need  baptism,  dcnicth 
the  mercies  of  Christ,  and  setteth  at  naught  the  atonement  of 
him  and  the  power  of  his  redemption. 

.Wo  unto  such,  for  they  are  in  danger  of  death,  hell,  and 
endless  torment.  I  speak  it  boldly,  God  hath  commanded  me. 
Listen  unto  them  and  give  heed,  or  they  stand  against  you  at  the 
judgment  seat  of  Christ. 

For  behold  that  all  little  children  are  alive  in  Christ,  and 
also  all  they  that  are  without  the  law.  For  the  power  of  re- 
demption cometh  on  all  they  that  have  no  law;  wherefore,  he 
that  is  not  condemned,  or  he  that  is  under  no  condemnation, 
cannot  repent;  and  unto  such  baptism  availeth  nothing. 

But  it  is  mockery  before  God.  denying  the  mercies  of  Christ, 
and  the  power  of  His  Holy  Spirit,  and  putting  trust  in  dead 
works. 

Behold,  my  son,  this  thing  ought  not  to  be;  for  repentance 
is  unto  them  that  are  under  condemnation  and  under  the  curse 
of  a  broken  law. 

And  the  first  fruits  of  repentance  is  baptism,  and  baptism 
cometh  by  faith,  unto  the  fulfilling  of  the  commandments;  and 
the  fulfilling  of  commandments  bringeth  remission  of  sins.0  . 

The  question  naturally  arises,  if  all  must  accept  the 
principles  of  the  gospel  and  be  baptized  for  the  remission 
of  their  sins,  what  of  the  dead  who  died  without  receiving 
the  remission  of  their  sins,  or  accepting  Christ  while  they 
were  in  the  flesh?  They  cannot  be  baptized  in  water  now 

"Doc.  &  Cov.  29:46-49. 
°Moroni  8:19-25 


10  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL. 

.and  have  hands  laid  on  their  heads  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  for  these  thing's  of  necessity  pertain  to  this  mortal 
probation.  Therefore,  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to 
be  baptized  now  or  even  after  the  resurrection,  for  they 
would  no  longer  be  mortal,  but  subject  to  the  laws  and 
regulations  of  that  life  which  is  to  come.  These  ordi- 
nances must  be  performed  in  this  life,  or,  'if  for  the  dead, 
vicariously  by  some  one  who  is  in  mortality,  the  living 
acting  as  proxy  for  the  dead.  Again  we  hear  the  objection 
raised,  that  this  is  impossible ;  that  one  man  cannot  stand, 
or  answer  for  another's  sins;  but  that  every  man  must 
stand  for  himself.  This  is  true  so  far  as  it  is  possible  to 
be  done.  But  occasions  have  arisen  where  the  man  guilty 
of  transgressing  the  law  was  unable  to  redeem  himself. 
And  punishment  for  sin,  is  for  the  propitiation  of  sin,  and 
in  such  cases  there  is  nothing  in  the  scriptures  forbidding 
one  to  stand  vicariously  for  another  when  circumstances 
render  it.  impossible  for  the  first  to  comply  with  the  law. 
In  ancient  Israel  they  had  the  scapegoat.  On  the  head  of 
this  goat,  Aaron  placed  both  his  hands  and  confessed  over 
him  all  the  iniquity  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  all -their 
transgressions  in  all  their  sins,  putting  them  upon  the 
head  of  the  goat,  and  then  sent  him  away  "by  the  hand  of 
a  fit  man  into  the  wilderness."  And  the  goat  bore  upon 
him  all  their  iniquities  into  the  wilderness  /'unto  a  land 
not  inhabited  :"p  This  was  but  one  instance.  In  various 
ways  of  vicarious  offerings  Irave  been  made  and  accepted. 
Then  why  should  it  be  considered  a  strange  thing  for  the 
Later-day  Saints  to  believe  that  the  children  have  the 
privilege  to  stand  vicariously  for  their  dead  fathers,  and 
by  proxy  perform  these  ordinances,  that  belong  to  this 
life,  in  their  behalf? 

The  fact  is,  the  whole  plan  of  redemption  is  based  on 
vicarious  salvation,  One  without  sin  standing  for  the 
whole  human  family,  all  of  whom  were  under  the  curse. 
It  is  most  natural  and " just  that  he  who  commits  the 
wrong  should  pay  the  penalty — atone  for  his  wrong  do- 
ing. Therefore,  when  Adam  was  the  transgressor  of  the 
law,  justice  demanded  that  he,  and  none  .else,  should 
answer  for  the  sin  and  pay  the  penalty  with  his  life.  But 
Adam,  in  breaking  and  law,  himself  became  subject  to 

pLeviticus  16:20-22.     Sec  also  Leviticus  chapters  4  and  5. 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  11 

the  curse,  and  being  under  the  curse  could  not  atone,  or 
undo  what  he  had  done.  Neither  could  his  children,  for 
they  also  were  under  the  curse,  and  it  required  one  who 
was  not  subject  to  the  curse  to  atone  for  that  original  sin. 
Moreover,  since  we  were  all  under  the  curse,  we  were  also 
powerless  to  atone  for  our  individual  sins.  It  therefore 
t)came  necessary  for  the  Father  to  send  his  Only  Begot- 
ten Son,  who  was  free  from  sin,  to  atone  for  our  sins  as 
well  as  for  Adam's  transgression,  which  justice  demanded 
should  be  done.  He  accordingly  offered  himself  a  sacri- 
fice for  sins,  and  through  his  <leath  upon  the  cross  took 
upon  himself  both  Adam's  transgression  and  our  individ- 
ual sins,  thereby  redeeming  us  from  the  fall,  and  from  our 
sins,  on  condition  of  repentance. 

Let  us  illustrate :  A  man  walking  along  the  road  hap- 
pens to  fall  into  a  pit  so  deep  and  dark  that  he  cannot 
climb  to  the  surface  and  regain  his  freedom.  How  can  he 
save  himself  from  his  predicament?  Not  by  any  exertions 
on  his  own  part,  for  there  is  no  means  of  escape  in  the  pit. 
He  calls  for  help  and  some  kindly  disposed  soul,  hearing 
his  cries  for  relief,  hastens  to  his  assistance  and  by  lower- 
ing a  ladder,  gives  to  him  the  means  by  which  he  may 
climb  again  to  the  surface  of  the  earth.  This  was  precisely 
the  condition  that  Adam  placed  himself  and  his  posterity 
in,  when  he  partook  of  the  forbidden  fruit.  All  being  to- 
gether in  the  pit,  none  could  gain  the  surface  and  relieve 
the  others.  The  pit  was  banishment  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord  and  temporal  death,  the  dissolution  of  the  body. 
And  all  being  subject  to  death,  none  could  provide  the 
means  of  escape.  Therefore,  in  his  infinite  mercy,  the 
Father  heard  the  cries  of  his  children  and  sent  his  Only 
Begotten  Son,  who  was  not  subject  to  death  nor  to  sin,  to 
provide  the  means  of  escape.  This  he  did  through  his  in- 
finite atonement  and  the  everlasting  gospel.  The  Savior 
voluntarily  laid  down  his  life  and  took  it  up  again  to  satis- 
fy the  demands  of  justice,  which  required  this  infinite 
atonement.  His  Father  accepted  this  offering  in  the  stead 
of  the  blood  of  all  those  who  were  under  the  curse,  and 
consequently  helpless.  The  Savior  said,  "I  lay  down  my 
life  for  the  sheep.  *  *  *  Therefore,  doth  my  Father 
love  me,  because  I  lay  down  my  life  that  I  might  take  it 


12  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

up  again.  iNo.mau  taketh  it  from  m«,  but  1  l#y  it  dewn  ®f 
myself.  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I  have  power 
to  take  it  again.  This  commandment  have  I  received  of 
my  Father.'"' 

From  this  we  see  that  he  had  life  in  himself,  which  he 
received  from  the  Father,  being  his  Only  Begotten  Son 
in  the  flesh.  And  it  was  this  principle  that  gave  him 
power  to  atone  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  both  for  Adam's 
transgression  and  for  our  individual  sins,  from  which  we 
could  not  of  ourselves  get  free.  Therefore,  Christ  died  in 
our  stead,  because  to  punish  us  would  not  relieve  the  situ- 
ation, for  we  would  still  be  subject  to  the  curse  even  if 
our  blood  had  been  shed,  and  through  his  death  we  re- 
ceive life  and  "have  it  more  abundantly." 

The  vicarious  atonement  was  for  all,  both  living  and 
dead,  for  as  extensive  as  was  the  fall,  of  necessity  must  be 
the  atonement.  There  shall,  therefore,  be  a  resurrection 
of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and  the  unjust/  This  is  gen- 
eral salvation.  Our  individual  salvation,  which  determ- 
ines our  standing,  or  glory,  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  besides 
depending  on  the  atonement  of  Christ,  also  is  on  condition 
that  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  the  gospel  are  accepted 
and  lived  by  us,  both  by  the  living  and  the  dead. 

This  vicarious  salvation  for  the  dead  is  not  a  new 
doctrine.  It  is  new  and  strange  for  this  generation,  it  is 
true,  but  only  because  of  a  lack  of  comprehension  of  the 
revelations  of  the  Lord.  The  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  said 
it  is  the  burden  of  the  scriptures.  It  has  been  taught 
among  the  Lord's  people  from  the  earliest  times.  Enoch 
saw  in  vision  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  and  all  their 
inhabitants  down  even  to  the  end  of  time.  The  Lord  told 
him  of  Noah  and  the  flood,  and  how  he  would  destroy  the 
people  of  the  earth  for  their  iniquity.  Of  these  rebellious 
one  who  rejected  the  truth  and  paid  no  heed  to  the 
preachings  of  Noah  and  the  ancient  prophets,  the  Lord 
said:  "I  can  stretch  forth  mine  hands  and  hold  all  the 
creations  which  I  have  made ;  and  mine  eyes  can  pierce 
them  also,  and  among  all  the  workmanship  of  mine  hands 

T|ohn  10:15-18 
24:15. 


SALVATION   UNIVERSAL  13 

there  has  not  been  so  much  wickedness  as  among  thy 
brethren.  But,  behold,  their  sins  shall  be  upon  the  heads 
of  their  fathers.  Satan  shall  be  their  father,  and  misery 
shall  be  their  doom ;  and  the  whole  heavens  shall  weep 
over  them,  even  all  the  workmanship  of  mine  hands; 
wherefore  should  not  the  heavens  weep,  seeing  these 
shall  suffer?  But  behold,  these  which  thine  eyes  are  upon 
shall  perish  in  the  floods ;  and,  behold,  I  will  shut  them 
up ;  a  prison  have  I  prepared  for  them.  And  That  which  I 
have  chosen  hath  plead  before  my  face.  Wherefore,  he 
suffereth  for  their  sins;  inasmuch  as  they  will  repent  in 
the  day  that  my  Chosen  shall  return  unto  me,  and  until 
that  day  they  shall  be  in  torment."* 

From  this  we  learn  that  the  Lord  has  prepared  a 
prison  for  the  souls  of  all  those  who  rejected  the  testi- 
mony of  the  antediluvian  prophets,  where  they  were  to  re- 
main in  torment  until  the  time  when  Jesus  should  atone 
for  their  sins. and  return  to  the  Father.  Isaiah  also  says: 
"And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  that  the  Lord  shall 
punish  the  host  of  the  high  ones  that  are  on  high,  and  the 
kings  of  the  earth  upon  the  earth.  And  they  shall  be 
gathered  together,  as  prisoners  are  gathered  in  the  pit, 
and  shall  be  shut  up  in  the  prison,  and  after  many  days 
shall  they  be  visited/  This  is  spoken  of  those  who  keep 
not  the  law  who  live  in  latter-days.  Again,  he  says: 
"The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me,  because  the  Lord 
hath  anointed  me. to  preach  good  tidings  unto  the  meek, 
he  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted,  to  pro- 
claim liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison 
to  them  that  are  'bound.""  This  was  spoken  of  as  the 
mission  of  the  Redeemer,  both  his  work  for  the  living 
and  the  dead  who  were  prisoners  that  were  bound.  When 
the  Savior  commenced  his  ministry,  he  entered  into  the 
synagogue  in  the  city  of  Nazareth — his  home  town — on 
the  Sabbath  day,  the.  book  of  Isaiah  was  handed  him,  he 
turned  to  this  passage  and  read,  closed  the  book,  handed 
it  back  to  the  minister,  and  while  the  eyes  of  all  the  con- 

•Book  *f  Moses  7:36-39. 
'I«gUh  24:31,  22. 

"Isaiah  61:1  and  42:7. 


14  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

gregatiou  were  riveted  upon  him,  he  said:  "This  day  is 
this  scripture  fulfilled  in  your  ears.'"'  But  the  Jews  re- 
jected him  and  his  testimony,  and  with  violence  drove 
him  from  the  city.  Nevertheless,  he  continued  to  proclaim 
liberty- to  the  captives,  declaring  that  he  came  not  alone  to 
save  the  living  but  also  to  save  the  dead, 

\Ye  hear  the  objection  made  from  time  to  time,  that 
Jesus  did  not  come  to  save  the  dead,  for  he  most  emphat- 
ically declared  himself  that  there  was  an  impassable  gulf 
that  separated  the  righteous  spirits  from  the  wicked.  In 
defense  of  their  position  they  quote  the  words  in  Luke, 
16th  chapter  and  26th  verse,  which  are :  'And  besides  all 
this,  between  us  and  you  there  is  a  great  gulf  fixed,  so 
that  they  which  would  pass  from  hence  to  you  cannot: 
neither  can  they  pass  to  us  that  would  come  from  thence." 
These  words,  according  to.  the  story,  were  spoken  by 
Abraham's  spirit  to  the  rich  man  who  raised  his  eyes  and 
asked  that  Lazarus  might  go  touch  his  lips  and  relieve  his 
torment.  Abraham  replied  that  it  could  not  be  for  there 
was  a  gulf  fixed  'between  them  that  the  spirit  of  no  man 
could  pass.  Therefore,  say  the  objectors  to  the  doctrine 
of  universal  salvation,  "it  is  quite  evident  that  the  right- 
eous and  the  wicked  who  are  dead,  cannot  visit  each 
other,  hence  there  is  no  salvation  for  the  dead." 

This  was  true  before  the  days  that  Jesus  atoned  for 
sin,  which  is  plainly  shown  in  the  passage  from  the  Book 
of  Moses  previously  quoted.  And  it  was  at  this  period 
this  event  occurred.  However,  Christ  came,  and  through 
his  death  bridged  that  gulf,  proclaimed  liberty  to  the  cap- 
tives, and  the  opening  of  this  prison  door  to  those  who 
sat  in  darkness  and  captivity.  From  that  time  forth  this 
gulf  is  bridged  so  that  the  captives,  after  they  have  paid 
the  full  penalty  of  their  misdeeds,  satisfied  justice,  and 
have  accepted  the  gospel  of  Christ,  having  the  ordinances 
atended  to  in  their  behalf  by  their  living  relatives  or 
friends,  receive  the  pasport  that  entitles  them  to  cross  the 
gulf. 

The  Lord  speaks  of  this  himself  in  the  fifth  chapter  of 

"Luke  4:16-21. 


SALVATION   1TNIVKKSAL  l.S 

John,  beginning  with  the  twenty-fourth  verse:  "Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  he  that  heareth  my  word,  and  be- 
lieveth  on  him  that  sent  me,  hath  everlasting  life,  and 
shall  not  come  into  condemnation;  but  is  passed  from 
death  unto  life. 

"Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  the  hour  is  coming 
and  now  is,  when  the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son 
of  God ;  and  they  that  hear  shall  live." 

And  the  Jews  marveled.  Perhaps  they  thought  he 
meant  those  who  were  "dead  in  trespasses  and  sins" 
should  hear  his  voice.  At  any  rate  they  marveled.  He 
perceived  it  and  said : 

"Marvel  not  at  this:  for  the  hour  is  coming,  in  the  which  all 
that  are  in  their  graves  shall  hear  His  voice,  and  shall  come 
forth:  they  that  have  done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of  life; 
and  they  that  have  done  evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  damna- 
tion. 

Peter  tells  us  that  Christ  did  this  very  thing: 

For  Christ  also  hath  once  suffered  for  sins,  the  just  for  the 
unjust,  that  he  might  brings  us  to  God,  being  put  to  death  in  the 
flesh,  but  quickened  by  the  spirit: 

By  which  also  he  went  and  preached  unto  the  spirits  in 
prison: 

Which  sometime  were  disobedient,  when  once  the  long- 
suffering  of 'God  waited  in  the  days  of  Noah,  while  the  ark.  was 
a  preparing,  wherein  few,  that  is,  eight  souls  were  saved.™ 

Why  did  he  preach  to  these  disobedient  spirits? 
Surely  not  to  increase  their  torments,  to  taunt  them  for 
not  accepting'  of  his  truth  in  the  days  of  the  prophets! 
Was  it  to  tantalize  them,  and  make  them  more  miserable 
because  of  the  blessings  they  had  lost!  Jesus  was  a  mer- 
ciful Redeemer,  who  suffered  as  no  other  man  suffered 
that  he  might  save  the  children  of  his  Father.  He  would 
take  no  pleasure  in  the  suffering  of  the  wicked.  It  was  his 
nature  to  plead  for  them,  to  entreat  his  Fatther  for  mercy 
in  their  behalf.  Therefore,  'whatever  his  mission  was,  it 
was  one  of  mercy  ancf  comfort  to  those  prisoners..  Peter 
tells  us  that  .the  object  of. his  visit  was  that  the  gospel 
might  be  preached  also  to  the  dead,  "that  they  might  be 


«>T  Peter  3:18-20. 
'xl  Peter  4:6. 


lo  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

jucfged  according  to  men  in  the  flesh,  but  live  according 
to  God  in  the  spirit. "J 

What  good  reason  can  be  given  why  the  Lord  should 
not  forgive  sins  in  the  world  to  come?  Why  should  man 
suffer  throughout  the  countless  ages  of  eternity  for  his 
sins  committed  here,  if  those  sins  are  not  unto  death? 
There  are  many  good,  honorable  men  who  have  wilfully 
wronged  no  man,  have  lived  to  the  best  of  their  opportun- 
ities, righteously;  yet  have  not  received  the  gospel,  for 
one  reason  or  another.  Where  would  be  the  justice  in 
condemning  them  forever  in  hell,  ''where  the  worm  dieth 
not  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched?"  We  learn  from  the 
Doctrine  and  Covenants,  that  eternal  punishment,  or  ever- 
lasting punishment,  does  not  mean  that  a  man  condemned 
will  endure  this  punishment  forever,  but  it  is  everlasting 
and  eternal,  because  it  is  God's  punishment,  and  he  is 
Everlasting  and  Eternal.  Therefore,  when  a  man  pays  the 
penalty  of  his  misdeeds  and  humbly  repents,  receiving  the 
gospel,  he  comes  out  of  the  prison-house  and  is  assigned 
to  some  degree  of  glory  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  according 
to  his  worth  and  merit. 

There  are  three  degrees  of  glory  in  this  kingdom,  the 
celestial,  into  which  those  who  keep  the  whole  law  shall 
enter;  the  terrestrial,  in  which  are  found  the  honorable 
men  of  the  world,  and  those  who  were  blinded  by  the 
craftiness  of  men,  and  were  overcome  by  the  things  of 
the  world,  and  also  those  who  have  accepted  Christ  but 
were  not  valiant  in  his  cause,  and -those  who  died  without 
law  among  the  heathen :  the  third,  or  telestial,  is  that 
glory  which  contains  the  great  majority  of  mankind  who 
differ  in  their  glory  as  the  countless  stars  of  heaven. 
These  are"  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  who  have  been 
unworthy,  unclean,  unfit  for  an  exaltation  in  the  other 
kingdoms.  And  still  there  will  be  some  who,  because  of 
their  filthiness  and  abominations  in, the  flesh,  will  be  un- 
worthy of  a  kingdom  of  glory  at  all.  The  sons  of  perdi- 
tion, those  who  are  lost,  having  rejected  the  atonement  of 
Christ  and  crucified  him  afresh  to  themselves,  these  will 
be  cast  out  of  the  kingdom  into  outer  darkness.  All  the 

x  I   Peter  4:6. 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  17 

rest  shall  be  saved  in  some  degree  of  glory  in  one  of  the 
three  grand  divisions  of  the  kingdom  of  God.  A  full  dis- 
cussion of  this  is  found  in  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  sec- 
tion 76. 

That  sins  are  forgiven  in  the  world  to  come,  we  need 
only  refer  to  the  words  of  the  Savior: 

All  manner  of  sin  and  blasphemy  shall  be  forgiven  unto 
men:  but  the  blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  not  be 
forgiven  unto  men.  And  whosoever  speaketh  a  word  against  the 
Son  of  man,  it  shall  be  forgiven  him:  but  whosoever  speaketh 
against  the  Holy  Ghost,  it  shall  not  be  forgiven  him,  neither  in 
this  world,  neither  in  the  world  to  come.* 

This  shows  that  some  sins  will  be  forgiven  in  the 
world  to  come.  We  are  also  informed  in  First  Corin- 
thians, fifteenth  chapter,  that  "if  in  this  life  only  we  have 
hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most  miserable."  But 
we  have  hope  in  Christ  both  in  this  life  and  in  the  life  to 
come.  Salvation  does  not  come  all  at  once;  we  are  com- 
manded to  be  perfect  even  as  our  Father  in  heaven  is  per- 
fect. It  will  take  us  ages  to  accomplish  this  end,  for  there 
will  be  greater  progress  beyond  the  grave,  and  it  will  be 
there  that  the  faithful  will  overcome  all  things,  and  re- 
ceive all  things,  even  the  fullness  of  the  Father's  glory.* 

Salvation  for  the  dead  was  understood  in  the  days  of 
the  primitive  Christian  Church,  and  to  some  extent  bap- 
tisms for  the  dead  continued  to  be  performed  until  A.  D. 
379,  when  the  Council  of  Carthage  forbade  any  longer  the 
administration  of  this  ordinance  and  "holy  communion" 
for  the  dead.  Paul  uses  baptism  for  the  dead  as  an  argu- 
men^against  the  Corinthian  Saints,  who,  even  in  that  day, 
were  falling  away  from  the  true  gospel.  These. saints 
understod  the  doctrine  of  baptism  for  the  dead,  yet  they 
doubted  the  general  resurrection.  Paul  argues  with  them 
thus : 

Now  if  Christ  be  preached  that  he  rose  from  the  dead,  how 
say  some  among  you  that  there  is  no  resurrection  of  the  dead? 
But  if  there  be  no  resurrection  of  the  dead,  then  is  Christ  net 
risen.  And  if  Christ  be  not  risen,  then  is  our  preaching  vain, 
and  your  faith  is  also  rain.  Yea,  and  we  are  found  falie  wit- 
nesses of  God;  because  we  have  testified  of  God  that  he  railed 
up  Chritt:  whom  he  raised  not  up,  if  §o  be  that  the  dead  rite  not. 
For  if  the  dead  rise  not,  then  is  not  Christ  raised:  and  if  Christ 

*Matt.  12:32. 
•Doc.  &  Cov.  84:38. 


18  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

be  not  raised,  your  faith  is  vain;  ye  are  yet  in  your  sins.  Then 
they  also  which  are  fallen  asleep  in  Christ  are  perished.  If  in 
this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most 
miserable.  But  now  is  Christ  risen  from  the  dead,  and  become 
the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept.  For  since  by  man  came  death 
by  man  came  also  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  For  as  in  Adam 
all  die;  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive.  *  *  *  * 
Else  what  shall  they  do  which  are  baptized  for  the  dead,  if  the 
dead  rise  not  at  all?  why  are  they  then  baptized  for  the  dead? 
and  why  stand  we  in  jeopardy  every  hour?a 

Joseph  Smith,  the  prophet,  informs  us  that  salvation 
for  the  dead  was  introduced  in  the  days  of  Christ  who  had 
reference  to  this  subject  when,  in  addressing  the  Jews,  he 
said  : 

That  upon  you  may  come  all  the  righteous  blood  shed  upon 
the  earth,  from  the  blood  of  the  righteous  Abel  unto  the  blood 
of  Zacharias,  son  of  Barachia's,  who  ye  slew  between  the  temple 
and  the  altar.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  all  these  things  shall  come 
upon  this  generation.6 

Commenting  on  this,  the  prophet  said  the  reason  that 
generation  would  have  to  answer  for  the  blood  of  the 
righteous  from  Abel  to  Zacharias,  was  that  in  their  day 
the  privilege  of  performing  the  ordinances  in  behalf  of 
the  dead,  was  within  their  power,  while  it  had  been 
denied  anciently. 

Hence,  as  they  possessed  greater  privileges  than  any  other 
generation,  not  only  pertaining  to  themselves,  but  to  their  dead, 
their  sin  was  greater,  as  they  not  only  neglected  their  own  sal- 
vation, but  that  of  their  progenitors,  and  hence  their  blood  was 
required  at  their  hands/' 

In  this  same  article  the  prophet  declared  that  Obe- 
diah  was  speaking  of  salvation  for  the  dead  when  he  said, 
"And  saviors  shall  come  upon  Mount  Zion,  to  judge  the 
Mount'Of  Esau,  and  the  kingdom  shall  be  the  Lord's/* 

The  work  of  saving  the  dead  has  practically  been  re- 
served for  the  dispensation  of  the  fullness  of  times,  when 
the  Lord  shall  restore  all  things.  It  is,  therefore,  the  duty 
of  the  Latter-day  Saints  to  see  that  it  is  accomplished.  We 
cannot  do  it  all  at  once,  but  will  have  the  thousand  years 
of  the  Millennium  to  do  it  in.  In  that  time  the  work  must 
be  done  in  behalf  of  the  dead  of  the  previous  six  thousand 


«I  Cor.  15:20-30. 
-*Matt.  23:35-36. 
cTimes  and  Seasons  3:761. 
"Obediah  21. 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  19 

years  for  all  who  need  it.  Temples  will  be  built  for  this 
purpose,  and  the  labor  in  them  will  occupy  most  of  the 
time  of  the  Saints. 

One  of  the  most  important  prophecies,  pertaining  to 
the  dead,  is  that  of  Malachi.  He  prophesied  that  the  Lord 
would  send  Elijah,  the  prophet,  before  the  coming  of  the 
great  and  dreadful  day.  of  the  Lord,  for  the  purpose  of 
turning  the  hearts  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  the 
hearts  of  the  children  to  the  fathers,  lest  the  earth  be  smit- 
ten with  a  curse,  when  the  Lord  should  come.  This  pro- 
phecy, which  is  not  understood  by  the  world,  has  come  to 
pass.  When  the  Angel  Moroni  appeared  to  the  Prophet 
Joseph -Smith,  September  21,  1823,  among  the  passages  of 
scripture  he  quoted  that  were  about  to  be  fulfilled,  was 
this  prophecy  of  Malachi's ;  but  he  quoted  it  with  this 
variation:  "Behold,  I  will  reveal  unto  you  the  priesthood 
by  the  hand  of  Elijah,  the  prophet,  before  the  coming  of 
the  great  and  dreadful  day  of  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  plant 
in  the  hearts  of  the  children  the  promise  made  to  the 
fathers,  and  the  hearts  of  the  children  shall  turn  to  their 
fathers.  If  it  were  not  so,  the  whole  earth  would  be  ut- 
terly wasted  at  his  coming."0' 

From  this,  we  see  that  Elijah's  mission  was  to  restore 
that  priesthood  which  would  turn  the  hearts  of  the  child- 
ren to  their  fathers,  according  to  a  promise  that  had  been 
made  to  the  fathers.  That  it  was  extremely  important 
and  necessary,  is^ shown  in  the  fact  that  the  whole  earth 
would  be  utterly 'wasted  at  the  coming  of  the  great  and 
dreadful  day  of  the  Lord,  if  this  priesthood  were  not 
restored.  This  quotation  deeply  impressed  the  prophet  at 
that  time,  although  he  could  not  understand  it.  Three 
times  that  night  it  was  repeated,  and  again  on  the  follow- 
ing day.  Gradually,  as  link  after  link  of  the  gospel  chain 
was  revealed,  and  the  keys  and  powers  were  bestowed, 
the  prophet  increased  in  wisdom  and  knowledge.  In  time, 
a  temple  was  built  in  Kirtland,  but  in  it  there  was  no 
baptismal  font,  or  any  other  provision  made  for  ordinance 
work  for  the  dead.  The  reason  is  that  the  doctrine  had 
not  ben  fully  revealed.  This  temple,  however,  served  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  erected,  a  house  of  the  Lord, 

^History  of  the  Church,  Vol.  1:12. 


21)  SALVATION   UNIVERSAL 

where  he  c^uld  come,  ami  send  his  angels  to  bestow  keys 
and  authority  necessary  in  this  dispensation.  In  this 
temple,  April  3,  1836,  the  Savior  and  many  of  the  ancient 
prophets  appeared  to  Joseph  Smith  and  Oliver  Cowdery 
and  bestowed  upon  their  heads  the  keys  of  the  several 
dispensations.  Among  these  heavenly  visitors  came 
Elijah,  who  placed  his  hands  on  the  heads  of  Joseph 
Smith  and  Oliver  Cowdery,  and  gave  them  the  priesthood 
spoken  of  by  Malachi.  "Therefore,"  said  he,  "the  keys  of 
this  dispensation  are  committed  into  your  hands,  and  by 
this  ye  may  know  that  the  great  and  dreadful  day  of  the 
Lord  is  near,  even  at  the  doors/ 

What  was  the  promise  made  to  the  fathers  that  was 
to  be  fulfilled  in  the  latter-days  by  the  turning  of  the 
hearts  of  the  children  to  their  fathers?  It  was  the  promise 
of  the  Lord  made  through  Enoch,  Isaiah,  and  the  pro- 
phets, to  the  nations  of  the  earth,  that  the  time  should 
come  when  the  dead  should  be  redeemed.  And  the  turn- 
ing of  the  hearts  of  the  children  is  fulfilled  in  the  per- 
forming of  the  vicarious  temple  work  and  in  the  prejpara- 
tion  of  their  genealogies.  Up  to  the  time  of  Elijah's 
visit,  there  had  been  nothing  done  for  the  dead.  The  doc- 
trine was  not  understood  by  the  Saints,  and  there  was  no 
temple  built  where  the  ordinances  could  be  performed. 
But  as  soon  as  this  priesthood  was  restored,  the  hearts  of 
the  children  commenced  turning  toward  their  fathers. 

The  knowledge  of  temple  building  and  temple  work 
was  made  known  to  the  prophet  from  time  to  time  subse- 
quently to  the  3rd  of  April,  1836,  and  he  commenced  to 
reveal  these  things  to  the  Saints. .  In  Nauvoo  they  were 
commanded  to  build  a  temple  to  the  Lord,  for  only  in 
temples  can  these  ordinances  be  performed,  excepting  in 
times  of  extreme  poverty,  when  they  cannot  build  temples 
for  that  purpose.  "For  this  ordinance  belongeth  to  my 
house,"  says  the  Lord,  "and  cannot  be  acceptable  to  me 
(i.  e.,  outside  of  the  house)  only  in  the  days  of  your  pov- 
erty, wherein  yt  are  not  able  to  build  *  house  unto  me."" 
As  the  Latter-day  Saints  were  in  thii  poverty-stricken 
condition  when  they  settled  at  Nauvoo,  the  Lord  granted 

'poc.  It  Cov.  U0:l$. 
*Doc.  fc  C*v.  124:30. 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  21 

t*hem  the  privilege  of  baptising  for  the  dead  in  tlje  Missis- 
sippi river,  until  a  place  could  be  prepared  for  the  ordi- 
nace  in  the  temple.  Just  as  soon  as  a  font  could  be  pre- 
pared in  the  temple,  the  L«rd,  by  revelation,  discontinued 
t}aptisms  for  the  dead  in  any  other  place.  It  was  Octobei 
3,  1841,  when  this  revelation  was  given,  and  on  the  8th  of 
the  folowing  month,  the  font  in  the  temple  at  Nauvoo  was 
dedicated,  and  from  that  day,  until  the  Saints  were  driven 
from  Illinois,  that  ordinance  continued  to  be  performed 
by  them  in  that  house  in  behalf  of  their  dead.*  After 
arriving  in  Salt  Lake  valley,  the  first  commandment 


*Some  of  those  who  would  destroy  the  work  of  God,  have 
declared  that  the  Church  was  rejected,  with  its  dead,  because  the 
tempi*  at  Nauvoo  was  not  finished;  and,  say  they,  the  Lord,  in 
this  revelation,  declared  that  he  would  give  the  Saints  sufficient 
time  to  build  a  house  (temple)  unto  him,  and  if  they  failed  to 
build  it  in  the  sufficient  time,  they  would  be  rejected  with  their 
dead.  The  fact  is,  that  the  Nauvoo  Temple  was  built,  and  many 
of  the  Saints  received  their  endowments  in  it,  and  labored  for 
their  dead  before  they  were  finally  driven  from  Nauvoo  by  their 
enemies.  But  the  meaning  of  this  revelation  is  perverted;  the 
Lord  did  not  say  he  would  reject  the  Church,  with  its  dead,  if 
they  failed  to  build  the  temple,  but  that  they  would  be  rejected 
if  they  did  not  perform  the  ordinances  for  their  dead  in  the 
temple  when  it  was  prepared  for  that  purpose.  Here  is  the  com- 
mandment in  question  (sec.  124:31-35): 

"But  I  command  you,  all  ye  my  Saints,  to  build  a  house  unto 
me;  and  I  grant  unto  you  a  sufficient  time  to  build  a  house  unto 
me,  and  during  this  time  your  baptisms  [i.  e.  oulside  of  a  temple] 
shall  be  acceptable  unto  me. 

"But,  behold,  at  the  end  of  this  appointment  [i.  e.  the  suffi- 
cient time]  your  baptisms  for  your  dead  shall  not  be  acceptable 
unto  me  [i.  e.  outside  of  a  temple]  and  if  ye  do  not  these  things 
[i.  e.  temple  ordinances]  at  the  end  of  the  appoinment,  ye  shall 
be  rejected  as  a  Church,  with  your  dead,  saith  the  Lord  your 
God. 

"For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  after  you  have  had  sufficient 
time  to  build  a  house  to  me,  wherein  the  ordinances  of  baptizing 
for  the  dead  belongeth,  and  for  which  the  same  was  instituted 
from  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  your  baptisms  for  your 
dead  [i.  e.  in  any  other  place  than  in  a  temple]  cannot  be  accept- 
able unto  me,  for  therein  are  the  keys  of  the  holy  priesthood  or- 
dained that  you  may  receive  honor  and  glory. 

"And  after  this  time  [when  a  house  is  prepared]  your  bap- 
tism for  the  dead,  by  those  who  art  scattfed  abroad,  are  not 
acceptable  unto  rn<e,  saith  fhe  Lard."  fBWId  lac-i?  Stid  brackets  af« 
mine."  J.  F.  S  j 


24.  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

•President  Young  received  from  the  Lord  was  to  com- 
mence to  build  a  temple  where  this  work  could  be  con- 
tinued. The  members  of , ,  the  Church  responded,  and 
temples  have  been  built,  where  the  living  now  go  to  offi- 
ciate for  the  dead. 

The  restoration  of  Elijah's  priesthood  accomplished 
more  than  the  turning  of  the  hearts  of  the  members  of  the 
Church  to  their  fathers, -for  the  spirit  of  his  mission  spread 
forth  and  took  hold  of  the  hearts  of  the  honorable  men 
and  women  in  the  world  who  have  been  directed,  they 
know  not  why/  to  spend  their  time  and  means  in  prepar- 
ing genealogies,  vital  records  and  various  other  genealog- 
ical data,  which  they  are  publishing  at  great  labor  and 
expense. 

It  is  a  curious'  and  interesting  fact  that  the  year  fol- 
lowing the  coming  of  Elijah,  the  British  government 
passed  laws  requiring  the  proper  recording' of  records, 
and  the  filing  of  them  in  one  central  place.  In  the  year 
1844,  the  New  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  So- 
cieyt  was  organized  in  Boston;  in  1869  the  New  York 
Genealogical  and  Biographical  Society  was  incorporated 
in  New  York.  Other  societies  have  been  organized  from 
time  to  time  in  America,  principally  in  the  New  England 
States,  and  they  are  publishing  .quarterly  genealogical 


And  if  ye  do  not  these  things  at  the  end  of  the  appointment, 

obviously  does  not  mean  "if  ye  do  not  build  a  temple  at  the  end 
of  the  appointment,"  as  our  critics  infer  it  does,  but  it  refers  to 
the  ordinances  that  were  to  be  performed  in  the  temple,  and  the 
failure  on  the  part  of  the  Saints  to  perform  these  ordinances  for 
their  dead  was  the  thing  that  would  cause  their  rejection  with 
their  dead,  and  not  the  failure  to  build  the  temple,  which  was 
merely  the  edifice  in  which  the  saving  principles  were  to  be  per- 
formed. This  is  in  harmony  with  the  teachings  of  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith,  who  said  that  if  we  neglect  the  salvation  of  our 
dead  "we  do  it  at  the  periol  of  our  own  salvation!  Why?  Because 
we  without  them  cannot  be  made  perfect."  (Doc.  &  Cov.  sec. 
28:15.) 

The  virtue  of  salvation  for  the  dead  is  not  in  the  structure  of 
the  temple,  but  in  the  ordinances  which  are  performed  in  the 
temple.  The  temple  is  to  the  -ordinances  just  what  the  vessel  is 
to  the  life-giving  nourishment  it  contains.  Those  who  would  re- 
ject us  on  a  technicality,  because,  as  they  say,  "  .we  did  not  finish 
the  temple,"  neither  build  temples  nor  perform  the  ordinances 
for  the  dead,  wherein  they  prove  their  rejection  by  the  Lord,,  ac- 
cording to  the  revelations  of  Joseph  Smith,  the  prophet. 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  .      23 

magazines  and  registers,  family  records,  etc. ;  and  are  con- 
tinually disseminating  information  regarding  our  ances- 
tors, that  is  useful  to  the  Latter-day  Saints.  The  New 
England  Society  is  publishing,  as  they  express  it  in  their 
magazine,  "by  a  fund  set  apart  from  the  bequest  of  Robert 
Henry  Eddy,"  to  the  society,  the  vital  records  (births, 
marriages  and  deaths)  of  towns  in  Massachusetts,  whose 
records  are  not  already  printed  from  the  beginning  to  the 
year  1850.  This  is  a  tremendous  work,  many  volumes  of 
these  records  have  been  published,  and  others  are  in 
course  of  preparation.1  Eventually  they  wall  be  printed 
by  this  and  other  similar  societies  in  Massachusetts,  a 
state  that  has  set  the  pace  for  her  sister  states  to  follow. 
There,  and  in  other  parts,  these  societies  are  protected 
and  encouraged  by  legislative  enactment.  Besides  these 
numerous  societies  engaged  in  this  noble  work,  there  are 
multitudes  of  individual  laborers  who  are  publishing  at 
their  own  expense  family  genealogies  and  vital  records 
that  extend  back  for  hundreds  of  years. 

In  Great  Britain  the  work  is  carried  on  by  the  Har- 


*Other  societies  in  Massachusetts  are  also  preparing  vital 
records,  among  them  are  the  Topsfield  Historical  Society,  the 
Essex  Antiquarian  Society,  the  "Systematic  History  Fund," 
Franklin  P.  Rice,  trustee.  Of  this  work  Mr.  Rice,  who  is  a  pio- 
neer in  genealogical  research,  says: 

"I  hope  sometime  to  give  in  detail  an  account  of  the  various 
undertakings  in  the  line  of  record  preservation  with  which  I  have 
been  connected  since  I  began,  in  the  early  seventies,  with  the 
idea,  crude  and  imperfect,  of  subjecting  to  classification,  for  easy 
reference,  manuscript  materials  in  public  depositories,  many  of 
which  were  then  hidden  or  unknown,  and  in  many  places  prac- 
tically inaccesible.  *  *  *  *  Thirty-five  years  ago  the  inter- 
est in  such  matters  was  mainly  antiquarian,  and  the  few  exam- 
ples in  print  in  this  line  had  been  inspired  from  that  standpoint. 
Genealogical  research  was  not  the  powerful  factor  it  is  today. 
As  the  idea  expanded  and  developed,  I  came  to  regard  the  work 
chiefly  in  its  practical  and  scientific  aspects,  and  I  applied  the 
term  "Systematic  History"  as  the  best  explaining  its  purpose,  to 
meet  the  necessities  of  al  enquirers  and  investigators.  *  *  * 
I  formulated  a  plan  sometime  before  1890  to  require  the  towns 
in  Massachusetts  to  print  their  records,  but  this  met  with  little 
"favor.  Its  substantial  features  are  embodied  in  the  Act  of  1902. 
*  *  *  -  Pursuing  the  work  since  1898  under  the  operation  of  the 
Systematic  History  Fund,  I  have  been  able  to  secure  copies  and 
to  print  the  vital  records  of  more  than  thirty  towns  in  central 
Massachusetts." 


24  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

Idan  Society,  the  Genealogist  Society,  Phillimore  &  Com- 
pany, the  Lancashire  Parish  Register  Society,  the  York- 
shire Parish  Register  Society,  and  similar  societies  in 
nearly  all  of  the  counties  of  Great  Britain.  These  societies 
publish  the  parish  registers  of  the  several  parishes  in  Eng- 
land, and  to  an  extent  in  Scotland,  Ireland  and  Wales. 
There  is  also  in  Great  Britain  Lodge's,  Debrett's  and 
Burkes'  Peeages  and  Visitations  which  are  invaluable  to 
the  searcher  of  genealogical  information  in  those  lands. 
These  numerous  societies  and  individuals  in  the  world, 
upon  whom  the  spirit  of  Elijah  has  fallen  to  this  extent  at 
least,  are  compiling,  printing  and  distributing  these  re- 
cords of  the  dead,  faster  than  the  Saints  can,  with  their 
present  facilities  and  understanding  of  the  work,  obtain 
them.  In  fact,  they  have  far  outstripped  us  in  the  race, 
and  while  we  sometimes  are  given  to  boasting  of  the 
great  work  we  are  doing  for  the  dead,  it  is  as  nothing,  a 
mere  drop  in  the  bucket.  These  people  and  societies  are 
helping  us,  should  we  not  take  every  advantage  of  their 
labors  and  stand  in  the  forefront,  magnifying  our  calling 
and  proving  our  birthright  as  the  children  of  Ephraim? 

Thus  the  hearts  of  the  children  are  gradually,  but 
surely  turning  towards  their  fathers.  The  spirit  of  this 
work  is  now  taking  hold  of  the  hearts  of  the  people  of 
Germany,  Scandinavia  and  the  continent  of  Europe.  And 
why  are  they  doing  this?  Because  their  hearts  have  been 
drawn  out  to  their  fathers,  through  the  restoration  of  the 
keys  of  salvation  for  the  dead,  and  they  are  energetically 
and  faithfully  laboring,  but  all  the  while  unconscious  of 
the  full  significance  and  worth  of  their  labors,  simply  be- 
cause the  work  appeals  to  them  and  they  are  fascinated 
by  it.  Surely  they  shall  receive  their  reward. 

While  many  honorable  men  and  women  in  the  world 
are  accomplishing  a  great  work  in  searching  out  and  com- 
piling genealogical  data,  their  labors  serve  only  as  the 
means  to  the  end.  The  greatest  work,  after  all,  devolves 
on  the  members  of  the  Church  wlio  have  the  priesthood, 
power  and  privilege,  to  go  into  the  temples,  taking  the 
names  from  these  compiled  records  and  from  all  other 
authentic  sources  and  performing  the  ordinances  in  be- 
half of  their  dead.  We  live  in  the  greatest  dispensation 
«f  the  \vnrld'$  history,  that  of  fhe  ful'lfie's*  r»f  rimes,  .when 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  25 

all  things  are  to  be  gathered  and  restored  to  their  proper 
order,  ushering  in  the  millennial  reign  of  the  Redeemer 
and  the  righteous.  Do  we  Latter-day  Saints  fully  realize 
the  importance  of  the  mighty  responsibility  placed  upon 
us  in  relation  to  the  salvation  of  the  world?  We  are  doing 
a  great  deal  in  the  attempt  to  convert  and  save  a  perverse 
and  wicked  generation  ;  we  are  sending  hundreds  of  mis- 
sionaries into  all  parts  of  the  earth,  and  are  spending 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  annually  in  this  very 
necessary  labor,  with  results  that  are  not  so  very  start- 
ling. We  are  spending  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars 
in  the  building  of  meetinghouses,  church  schools  and 
other  buildings,  and  in  the  education  of  the  youth  of 
Israel,  in  developing  and  improving  our  lands,  building 
cities  and  increasing  our  communities,  publishing  periodi- 
cals and  magazines,  and  in  every  way  diligently  striving 
to  improve  our  own  people,  and  disseminate  knowledge 
that  wil  convert  the  world  to  the  gospel;  but  what  are  we 
doing  for  the  salvation  of  our  dead?  Many  there  are,  it 
is  true,  who  comprehend  this  greater  work,  and  are  faith- 
fully discharging  their  duties  in  the  temples  of  the  Lord, 
but  of  others  this  cannot  be  said.  The  temple  in  Salt 
Lake  City  has  for  many  months  been  so  crowded  with 
anxious,  earnest  workers,  that  it  has  been  necessary  many 
times  to  turn  large  numbers  away  because  there  was  not 
suficient  room.  This  is  a  good  sign,  showing  the  willing- 
ness and  activity  of  the  Saints.  But  this  condition  does 
not  relieve  from  responsibility  the  inactive,  dilatory  mem- 
bers, who  are  doing  nothing  for  their  dead.  These  per- 
sons cannot  expect  to  receive  credit  for  what  others  may 
be  doing.  The  responsibility  rests  with  equal  force  on  all 
according  to  our  individual  ability  and  opportunities.  It 
matters  not  what  else  we  have  been  called  to  do,  or  what 
position  we  may  occupy,  or  how  faithfully  in  other  ways 
we  have  labored  in  the  Church,  none  are  exempt  from  this 
great  obligation.  It  is  required  of  the  apostle  as  well  as 
the  humblest  elder.  Place  or  distinction,  or  long  service 
in  the  Church,  in  the  mission  field,  the  stakes  of  Zion,  or 
where  or  how  else  it  may  have  been,  will  not  entitle  one 
to  disregard  the  salvation  of  one's  dead.  Some  may  feel 
that  if  they  pay  their  tithing,  attend  their  regu.Jar  meet- 
ings and  other  duties,  give  of  their  substance  to  the  poor, 
perchance  spend  one,  two  or  m$re  years  preaching  in  the 


26  SATArAT10N  UNIVERSAL 

world,  that  they  are  absolved  from  further  duty.  But  the 
greatest  and  grandest  duty  of  all  is  to  labor  for  the  dead. 
\\  e  may  and  -should  derail  these  other  things,  for  which 
reward  ..will  be  given,  but  if  we  neglect  the  weightier  priv- 
ilege and  commandment,  notwithstanding  all  other  good 
works,  we  shall  find  ourselves  under  severe  condemna- 
tion. And  why  such  condemnation?  Because  "the  great- 
est responsibility  in  this  world  that  God  has  laid  upon  us, 
is  to  seek  after  our  dead;"J  Because  we  cannot  be  saved 
without  them,  "It  is  necessary  that  those  who  have  gone 
before  and  those  who  come  after  us  should  have  salvation 
in  common  with  us,  and  thus  hath  God  made  it  obligatory 
to  man,"A  says  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith.  From  this, 
then,  we  see  that  while  it  is  necessary  to  preach  the  gospel 
in  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  to  do  all  other  good  works 
in  the  Church,  yet  the  greatest  commandment  given  us, 
and  made  obligatory,  is  the  temple  work  in  our  own  be- 
half and  in  behalf  of  our  dead. 

Again  the  Prophet  says : 

Baptism  for  the  'dead  is  the  only  way  that  men  can  appear 
as  saviors  upon  Mount  Zion.  The  proclamation  of  the  first  prin- 
ciples of  the  gospel  was  a  means  of  salvation  to  man  individual- 
ly, but  men,  by  actively  engaging  in  rites  of  salvation  substi- 
tutionally,  become  instrumental  in  bringing  multitudes  of  their 
kin  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  *  *  *  This  doctrine  appears 
glorious  inasmuch  as  it  exhibits  the  greatness  of  divine  compas- 
sion and  benevplence  in  the  extent  of  the  plan  of  human  salva- 
tion. This  glorious  truth  is  well  calculated  to  enlarge  the  un- 
derstanding, and  to  sustain  the  soul  under  troubles,  difficulties, 
and  distresses.  *  *  *  This  doctrine  presents  in  a  clear  light 
the  wisdom  and  mercy  of  God,  in  preparing  and  ordinance  for  the 
salvation  of  the  dead,  being  baptized  by  proxy,  their  names  re- 
corded in  heaven,  and  they  judged  according  to  the  deeds  done 
in  the  body.  This  doctrine  was  the  burden  of  the  scriptures. 
Those  Saints  who  neglected  it,  in  behalf  of  their  deceased  rel- 
atives, do  it  at  the  peril  of  their  own  salvation. l 

The  reason  our  own  salvation  stands  in  jeopardy  is 
because  it  is  necessary  that  the  parents  and  children  not 
only  receive  the  ordinance  of  baptism,  but  they  must  be 


-'Joseph  Smith  in  Times  and  Seasons  6:616. 

fclbi'd. 

'Times  and  Seasons  2:545-6. 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  27 

joined  together  from  generation  to  generation.  It  is  neces- 
sary for  us  to  go  into  the  temples,  be  baptized,  confirmed, 
and  receive  all  the  ordinances  for  our  dead,  just  as  we- re- 
ceive them  for  ourselves."' 

It  is  sufficient  to  know  that  the  earth  wil  Ibe,  smitten  with 
a  curse,  unless  there  is  a  welding  link  of  some  kind  or  other, 
betwen  the  fathers  and  the  children  upon  some  subject  or  other, 
and  behold  what  is  that  subject?  It  is  the  baptism  for  the  dead 
For  we  without  them  cannot  be  made  perfect;  neither  can  they 
without  us  be  made  perfect.  Neither  can  they  nor  we  be  made 
perfect  without  those  who  have  died  in  the  gospel  also;  for  it 
is  necessary  in  the  ushering  in  of  the  dispensation  of  the  fulness 
of  times,  which  dispensation  is  now  beginning  to  usher  in,  that 
a  whole  and  complete  and  perfect  union  and  welding  together 
of  dispensations,  and  keys,  and  powers,  and  glories  should  take 
place,  and  be  revealed,  from  the  days  of  Adam  even  to  the  pres- 
ent tirrie'  and  not  "only  this  but  those  things  which  never  have 
been  revealed  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  but  have  been 
kept  hid  from  the  wise  and  prudent  shall  be  revealed  unto  babes 
and  sucklings  in  this  dispensation  of  the  fulness  of  times." 

Again,  quoting  from  the  prophet: 

The  Bible  says,  I  will  send  you  Elijah  the  prophet  before 
the  coming  of  the  great  and  dreadful  day  of  the  Lord;  and  he 
shall  turn  the  hearts  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  the 
hearts  of  the  children  to  their  fathers,  lest  I  come  and  smite  the 
earth  with  a.  curse. 

Now,  the  word  turn  here  should  be  translated  bind  or  seal. 
But  what  is  the  object  of  this  important  mission?  or  how  is  it  to 
be  fulfilled?  The  keys  are  to  be  delivered,  the  spirit  of  Elijah 
is  to  come,  the  gospel  to  be  established,  the  Saints  of  God  to  be 
gathered,  Zion  built  up,  and  the  Saints  to  come  up  as  saviors  on 
Mount  Zion. 

But  how  are  they  to  become  saviors  on  Mount  Zion?  By 
building  their  temples,  erecting  their  baptismal  fonts,  and  going 
forth  and  receiving  all  the  ordinances,  baptisms,  confirmations, 
washings,  anointings,  ordinations  and  sealing  powers  upon  their 
heads,  in  behalf  of  all  their  progenitors  who  are  dead,  and  re- 
deem them  that  they  may  come  forth  in  the  first  resurrection 
and  be  exalted  to  thrones  of  glory  with  them,  and  herein  is  the 
chain  that  binds  the  hearts  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and 
children  to  the  fathers,  which  fulfills  the  mission  of  Elijah.  And 
I'  would  that  this  temple  were  now  done,  that  we  might  go  into 


'"History  of  the  Church,  May  12,  1844. 
"Doc.  &  Cov.  128:18. 


28  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

it,  and  go  to  work  and  improve  our  time,  and  make  use  of  the 
seals  while  they  are  en  earth. 

The  Saints  have  not  too  much  time  to  save  and  redeem  their 
dead,  and  gather  together  their  living  relatives,  that  they  may  be 
saved  also,  be-fore  the  earth  wil  be  smitten,  and  the  consum- 
mation decreed  falls  upon  the  world.0 

These  passages  emphasize  the  importance  of  the 
work  for  the  dead,  for  we  cannot  be  saved  without  them, 
nor  can  they  be  saved  without  us.  Our  salvation  cannot 
be  accomplished  unless  the  fathers  and  the  children  are 
joined  together,  bound,  sealed  in  perfect  family  order. 
Husbands  must  be  united  by  authority  to  their  wives ; 
children  to  their  parents,  until  there  is  one  grand  family 
composed  of  all  the  faithful  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  time,  with  Adam,  our  progenitor  standing  in  his  calling 
as  the  father  of  us  all. 

How  great  is  the  responsibility  of  the  Latter-day 
Saints!  No  wonder  the  theme  occupied  the  prophet's 
mind  so  constantly,  just  before  his  death,  for  upon  the 
Saints  devolves  the  labor  of  this  universal  redemption ! 
Is  not  this  the  greatest,  most  glorious  duty  in  the  world? 
How  terrible  would  be  the  consequences  should  we  fail! 
The  earth  would  be  smiten  with  a  curse,  and  utterly 
wasted.  The  work  of  all  the  dispensations  would  be  lost, 
the  dead  as  well  as  the  living  would  be  denied  salvation. 
Anarchy,  confusion,  even  chaos,  would  reign  supreme: 
for  this  salvation  must  come  by  our  endeavors,  and  we 
cannot  fail.  Individuals  may  fail  to  do  their  part,  and  be 
rejected  for  their  failure,  but  the  work  of  the  Lord  shall 
go  on  and  increase  from  day  to  day,  until  redemption  of 
the  dead  shall  be  accomplished. 

If  all  the  righteous  blood  from  the  days  of  Abel  to  the 
days  of  Zacharias,  was  required  of  the  Jews  in  the  days 
of  Christ,  because  they  neglected  to  do  their  duty  in  this 
regard,  is  it  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  the  blood  of  all 
the  righteous  from  the  beginning  to  the  present  day  will 
be  required  of  this  generation?  For  our  privileges  are. 
greater  than  these  of  the  Jews  in  the  meridian  of  time. 
Therefore  it  behooves  each  one  &f  us  to  rid  our  garments 

"History  of  the  Church.  Jan.  20,  1844. 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  29 

of  the  bluotj  of  this  generation  by  performing   aM  our 
duties  required  in  the  gospel. 

If  this  work  must  be  performed  for  the  dead  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end  of  time,  how  is  it  to  be  done?  It  is  an 
exceptional  case  when  a  family  record  can  be  traced  be- 
yond the  fifteenth  century  with  any  degree  of  accuracy, 
and  most  all  of  those  that  can,  merely  give  the  name  of 
the  Father  and  firstborn,  son,  or  the  name  of  the  one  in- 
heriting the  estate.  In  extent  of  time  three  or  four  hun- 
dred years  is  but  a  moment.  What,  then,  are  we  to  do 
for  the  great  multitudes  of  our  kindred  who  antedate  the 
fifteenth  or  sixteenth  centuries,  whose  records  were  never 
kept,  and  consequently  we  cannot  obtain?  Will  the  Lord 
hold  us  accountable  for  these  dead,  and  punish  us  for  not 
doing  their  work,  when  we  are  powerless  to  act?  Not  in 
the  least.  The  Lord  requires  of  us  that  we  do  all  we  can, 
no  more  than  that.  He  will  assist  us  if  we  will  try,  and 
the  way  will  be  opened  before  us,  as  has  been  the  case  in 
innumerable  instances,  so  that  we  can  accomplish  a' great 
deal  more  than  we  at  first  think  we  can.  There  is  enough 
that  we  can  do  for  the  dead,  from  the  records  which  can 
be  obtained  today,  to  fill  a  hundred  temples  daily,  and 
then  we  would  not  be  through,  at  the  rate  we  are  working, 
before  Christ  will  come  to  reign. 

We  are  expected  to  save  as  many  as  we  possibly  can 
with  the  knowledge  we  possess,  and  when  the  Redeemer 
corns  to  reign  on  earth,  there  will  be  a  closer  communica- 
tion between  the  mortal  and  the  resurrected  Saints  who 
will  work  hand  in  hand  in  the  redemption  of  the  dead. 
These  who  have  pased  beyond  will  then  be  in  a  position 
to  furnish  to  their  mortal  kin  all  necessary  names  for 
temple  work  ;  and  thus  the  labor  for  their  salvation  will  be 
facilitated  and  more  accurately  done  than  it  possibly  can 
be  done  today. 

Even  now  hundreds  of  thousands  of  records  have 
been  prepared,  the  names  of  many  millions  of  souls  have 
been  published  and  are  accessible  to  the  members  of  the 
Church.  Each  year  new  genalogical  records  are  being 
prepared  in  vast  numbers  more  rapidly  than  we  can  do 
the  work.  And  the  Saints  with  all  their  diligence,  are  not 
doing  all  that  could  be  done.  Comparatively,  we  are  few 


.i<)  .  SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

in  numbers,  and  the  capacity  of  our  temples,  limited;  but 
we  should  increase  the  work  by  increasing  the  number 
of  workers.  When  the  present  temples  will  not  accom- 
modate all  who  desire  to  attend,  the  Lord  will  require  that 
other  temples.be  erected. 

There  are  in  the  Church  today  (1910)  over  forty-one 
thousand  seven  hundred  men  holding  the  Melchiz- 
edek  Priesthood,  and  every  faithful  elder  has  ac- 
cess to  the  temples.  Suppose  that  each  of  the 
forty-one  thousand  seven  hundred  elders  should 
go  to  one  of  the  temples  one  day  each  month — 
and  where  they  cannot  go,  they  might  send  and 
have  the  work  done  for  them— -what  .would  be  the  result? 
The  work  would  be  done  for  five  hundred  thousand  each 
year.  If  an  equal  number  of  sisters  would  do  the  same, 
there  would  be  one  million  souls  endowed  every  year.  If 
we  spent  one  day  each  month  in  the  temples  saving  our 
dead,  just  twelve  days  out  of  the  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  of  the  year,  brethren  and  sisters.,  would  any  of  us  be 
doing  more  than  our  share?  Could  we  even  feel  that  we 
were  doing  our  full  duty,  when  the  responsibility  given  us 
•is  so  great,  and  "the  Saints  have  not  too  much  time  to 
save  and  redeem  their  dead  and  gather  together  their 
living  relatives,  that  they  may  be  saved  also  before  the 
earth  will  be  smitten,  and  the  consummation  decreed  falls 
upon  the  world?  Suppose  we  did  all  this  each  year,  in  the 
course  of  a  century  we  would  have  endowed  one  hundred 
milion  souls,  which  is. about  the  present  population  of  the 
United  States,  and  a  very  small  part  of  the  work  for 
those  whose  records  we  may  now  obtain.  In  the  library 
of  the  Genealogical  Society  of  Utah — which  society  was 
organized  in  1894  as  an  aid  to  the  Saints  who  desire  to  do 
temple  work— situated  in  the  Church  Office  Building,  Salt 
Lake  City,  we  have  on  file  thousands  of  records,  contain- 
ing millions  of  names  that  have  been  collected  from  the 
parish  registers  and  other  records  both  in  the  United 
States  and  Kurope.  These  are  accessible,  and  many  are 
obtaining  from  them  the  names  of  their  dead  and  per- 
forming in  the  temples  the  work  that  will  merit  them  a 
place  in  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

Again,  suppose  each  one  of  us  should  fill  out  one  bap- 
tismal blank  of  twenty  names,  and  send  it  to  the  temple 
cverv  month,  it  would  mean  that  over  twenty  million,  six- 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL  31 

teen  thousand  baptisms  would  be  performed  each  twelve 
months.  Suppose  we  sent  such  a  list  but  twice  a  year,  we 
would  then  baptize  three  million,  three  hundred  and 
thirty-six  thousand  souls  each  year.  Is  this 'more  than 
wo  ought  to  do?  Is  it  more  than  we  are  capable  of  elding? 
It  certainly  is  a  great  deal  more  than  we  are  doing;  and, 
too,  there  are  many  individuals  who  are  baptizing  more 
than  twenty  every  month.  If  a  few  can  do  it,  why  can  not 
more?  The  fact  is,  this  question  has  not  appealed  to  many 
of  us,  we  have  been  so  busy  in  other  pursuits,  principally 
in  the  accummulation  of  wordly  goods  that  we  cannot 
carry  with  rs,  that  we  have  had  no  time  or  inclination  to 
do  the  work  fur  our  dead.  If  one  hundredth  part"  of  the 
energy  expended  by  the  members  of  the  Church  in  other 
ways  were  directed  in  the  channels  of  temple  work  where 
it  properly  belongs,  we  could  accomplish  a  great  deal 
mure  work  than  we  are  now  doing  for  the  salvation  of  the 
dead. 

But  one  will  say:  "1  have  done  the  work  for  all  my 
ancestors  of  whom  I  have  any  knowledge.  My  genealogy 
can  only  be  traced  to  my  great  grandfather,  beyond  that 
all  is  dark.  How  can  I  be  baptized  each  year  for  twenty, 
forty,  sixty,  or  more  of  my  dead  when  we  haven't  their 
records?"  To  such  a  person  I  reply :  If  you  have  done 
the  work  for  all  your  known  dead,  and  your  record  can- 
not be  traced  but  one  or  two  generations,  you  still  have 
the  privilege  of  assisting  your  neighbor  who  lacks  suf- 
ficient help  and  therefore  cannot  do  the  work  for  all 
his  dead.  Assist  him  and  assist  the  temples  with  your 
financial  as  well  as  your  moral  support',,  and  the  way 
may  be  opened  before  you  that  you  can 'obtain  more 
knowledge  of  your  own  dead. 

There  is  one  thing  of  importance,  however,  we  must 
keep  in  mind.  Xo  person  has  a  right  to  select  names  pro- 
miscuously of  any  family,  and  go  to  the  temple  to  perform 
the  work  for  them.  This  cannot  be  tolerated,  for  it  would 
lead  to  confusion  and  duplication  of  work.  Let  each  family 
do  the  work  for  their  own  dead  kindred,  as  they  may  have 
the  right,  and  if  they  do  work  for  others,  it  must  be  at  the 
instance  and  with,  the  consent  of  the  living  relatives  who 
are  immediately  concerned.  A  few  individuals  have  de- 
sired to  do  the  work  for  men  of  renown,  generals,  prosi- 


SALVATION  UNIVERSAL 

,  magistrates,  and  others  who  have  risen  to  prom- 
inent itations  in  the  world.  One  object  they  apparently 
have  in  view  is  that  they  may  say  they  have  done  the 
work  for  such  and  such  persons.  But  there  is  an  order  in 
this  work,  as  in  all  things  pertaining  to  the  gospel,  and 
in  no  case  should  work  be  done  in  this  manner,  unless  the 
circumstances  are  such  that  proper  sanction  of  the  temple 
authorities  can  be  given. 

We  are  also  troubled  at  times  by  what  are  known  as 
"link-men,"  individuals  in  the  world  who  manufacture 
names  so  that  they  can  complete  unbroken  a  family  line. 
This  is  done  for  the  purpose  of  making  money,  and  is,  of 
course,  knavery  of  the  worst  kind.  Those  who  are  guilty 
of  this  trickery  do  not  understand  salvation  for  the  dead, 
and  may  not  fully  realize  the  wickedness  of  such  a  course. 

Latter-day  Saints  should  be  accurate  in  their  record- 
ing, and  not  depend  entirely  on  the  temple  records  for  a 
history  of  their  work.  Temple  record  books  are  prepared 
for  the  use  of  the  Saints  so  that  each  family  may  keep 
their  own  record  of  their  dead.  This  should  be  done  that 
the  record  may  be  handed  down  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration. Remember  it  is  out  of  the  records  that  the  dead 
are  to  be  judged.  We  should  be  orderly  in  all  things,  and 
strive  to  get  the  spirit  of  the  work,  live  our  religion  and 
work  out  our  own  salvation  by  assisting  in  the  salvation 
of  our  dead,  for  we  without  them  cannot  be  made  perfect. 

In  the  words  of  the  prophet,  I  shall  conclude, 

Brethren,  shall  we  not  go  on  in  so  great  a  cause?  Go  for- 
ward and  not  backward.  Courage,  brethren;  and  on,  on  to  the 
victory!  Let  your  hearts  rejoice,  and  be  exceeding  glad.  Let 
the  earth  break  forth  into  singing.  Let  the  dead  speak  forth 
anthems  of  eternal  praise  to  the  King  Immanuel,  who  hath  or- 
dained before  the  world  was,  that  which  would  enable  us  to  re- 
deem them  out  of  their  prison;  for  the  prisoners  shall  go  free.** 


PDoc.  &  Cov.  128:22, 


